We asked our authors from around the world to share their thoughts on why they write, why they read, and the books that have influenced them.
Here’s what they had to say.
Tell us why you read and share your favorite books! Join the discussion @HarperCollins on Twitter using #hc200.
I owe my mother everything. When I was a kid, she didn’t demand that I pick up a book, but simply read herself, so I followed her example. The first book I remember choosing was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, which told the harrowing tale of a horse’s life. Consuming that one book led to a lifetime of reading—but the story also ignited my love of animals, teaching me to empathize more deeply with such creatures, eventually leading to a career as a veterinarian, not to mention a novelist who loves folding animals into his stories. So thanks, Mom!
